Cosmetic composition comprising at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof, at least one monovalent salt, and at least one suspension compound, processes using this composition, and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a liquid or fluid aqueous cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof, at least one monovalent salt, and at least one suspension compound chosen from silicones and fatty substances. Further disclosed herein is a process for shaping and/or holding a hairstyle, in which the cosmetic composition is used, as well as the uses of this cosmetic composition as a styling composition for fixing and holding the hair, a haircare composition, a hair conditioning composition for giving the hair softness, and a hair makeup composition.

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/562,300, filed Apr. 15, 2004.

Disclosed herein is an aqueous liquid or fluid cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof, at least one monovalent salt, and at least one suspension compound chosen from silicones and non-silicone fatty substances. Further disclosed herein is a process for shaping or holding a hairstyle in which this cosmetic composition is used, and also the uses of this composition.

It is common practice in the cosmetics field to use aqueous compositions comprising drops of silicone or of non-silicone fatty substances in suspension.

One problem posed by these compositions may be their stability. The stability of suspensions of drops of silicone or of fatty substances may be linked to the viscosity of the support; the stability is generally ensured by means of a surfactant. The composition obtained in the presence of surfactant(s) is an oil/water or silicone/water emulsion. Following a rise in temperature or simply over time, one may observe a drop in the viscosity of the emulsions. This drop in viscosity, if it is large enough, may cause phase separation of the emulsion. In general, it is difficult to obtain an emulsion that is stable over time.

Besides surfactants, all kinds of gelling agents have been used to obtain stable compositions.

European Patent Application No. EP 611 207 describes a process for stabilizing vesicles formed from a lipid-phase membrane containing at least one ionic and/or nonionic amphiphilic lipid encapsulating an aqueous phase, in the form of a dispersion in an aqueous phase, by addition to the aqueous dispersion phase of at least one stabilizer, the stabilizer being chosen from glycerol alginates, propylene glycol alginates, gellan gum, and welan gum.

It has now been discovered, surprisingly, that the use of a combination of at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof and at least one monovalent salt may make it possible to stabilize compositions comprising a compound in suspension.

The combination of at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof and at least one monovalent salt allows placing silicones and/or fatty substances in suspension, even in a medium of very low viscosity (from about 1 to 10 poises, i.e., 0.1 to 1 Pa.s). The cosmetic composition obtained may be stable for several months, even when it is subjected to variations in temperature.

One embodiment disclosed herein is a liquid or fluid aqueous cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof, at least one monovalent salt, and at least one compound in suspension chosen from phenyl silicones, non-phenyl silicones, and non-silicone fatty substances, with the proviso that when the compound in suspension is not a phenyl silicone, then the composition comprises at least one fixing polymer chosen from at least one of anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and nonionic fixing polymers.

In certain embodiments, the cosmetic composition may be a cosmetic hair composition, such as a cosmetic hairstyling composition.

The thixotropic nature of the compositions disclosed herein may allow restitution of the properties of these cosmetic compositions when they are applied using a spray or as an aerosol.

According to one embodiment, the composition disclosed herein comprises at least one fixing polymer, in which case it may be used in styling cosmetic compositions for shaping and/or holding the hair.

The addition of at least one fixing polymer to the composition disclosed herein may make it possible to obtain a good hairstyle fixing effect, which is generally not the case for combinations of fixing polymers with silicones or conventional suspension agents.

Additionally, the cosmetic styling composition disclosed herein may give the hair good cosmetic properties, for example in terms of feel (soft feel), disentangling, and sheen.

When the combination is used in cosmetic compositions for shaping and/or holding the hairstyle, the compositions obtained may allow good fixing and good holding of the hair, i.e., a styling effect that persists throughout the day, or even for several days, which may have good water resistance and which may be easy to remove by shampooing.

Another embodiment disclosed herein is a process for shaping or holding the hairstyle, in which the disclosed cosmetic composition is used.

Yet another embodiment concerns the uses of this cosmetic composition as a styling composition for fixing and/or holding the hair, a haircare composition, a hair conditioning composition, for example for giving the hair softness, or a hair makeup composition.

Thus, the present disclosure relates to the use of a cosmetic composition for giving the hair a fixing effect, for giving the hair hold, and/or for giving the hair cosmetic qualities.

The cosmetic composition disclosed herein may be in the form of a spray, a mousse, or a gel.

Other embodiments, characteristics, aspects, and advantages of the cosmetic compositions will emerge even more clearly on reading the description and the examples that follow.

Without wishing to be bound by any theory, the cosmetic compositions adisclosed herein may be in the form of gels, i.e., a three-dimensional network of molecules that holds a large amount of solvent in its mesh. The formation of such a network constitutes its gelation.

The cosmetic compositions disclosed herein may also be in the form of mousses.

As used herein, the term “styling cosmetic composition” means a composition for shaping and/or holding the hairstyle.

As used herein, the term “liquid or fluid composition” means that the viscosity of the composition ranges from the viscosity of water to 50 poises, such as ranging from the viscosity of water to 20 poises.

As used herein, the term “aqueous composition” means that the cosmetically acceptable medium used in the compositions disclosed herein is a predominantly aqueous medium optionally comprising at least one additional organic solvent.

The additional organic solvent used in the compositions disclosed herein may be chosen from at least one of C₁-C₄ lower alcohols, for instance ethanol, isopropanol, tert-butanol, n-butanol, and polyols (for instance propylene glycol, polyol ethers, and mixtures thereof). The alcohol used may, for example, be ethanol.

The aqueous composition disclosed herein comprises less than 10% by weight of oily compounds; the term “oily compounds,” as used herein, means both liquid and solid oily compounds.

Gellan gum is a polysaccharide produced by aerobic fermentation of Sphingomonas elodea, more commonly known as Pseudomonas elodea. This linear polysaccharide comprises a sequence of the following monosaccharides: D-glucose, D-glucuronic acid, and L-rhamnose. In the native state, gellan gum is highly acylated.

The gellan gum that may be used in the compositions disclosed herein is an at least partially deacylated gellan gum. This at least partially deacylated gellan gum is obtained by a high-temperature alkaline treatment.

A KOH or NaOH solution may be used, for example.

The purified gellan gum sold under the trade name Kelcogel® by the company Kelco is suitable for preparing the compositions disclosed herein.

The gellan gum derivatives are all products obtained by performing standard chemical reactions such as, for example, esterifications or additions of an organic or mineral acid salt.

An example of a gellan gum derivative that may be used is welan gum. Welan gum is a gellan gum modified by fermentation using the Alcaligenes strain ATCC 31 555. Welan gum has a repeating pentasaccharide structure formed from a main chain comprising D-glucose, D-glucuronic acid, and L-rhamnose units on which is grafted a pendent L-rhamnose or L-mannose unit.

The welan gum sold under the trade name Kelco Crete® by the company Kelco is suitable for preparing the compositions disclosed herein.

The concentration of the at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof used in the compositions disclosed herein may range from 0.005% to 10%, such as from 0.01% to 5%, or from 0.02% to 3%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

The at least one monovalent salt that may be used in the compositions disclosed herein are salts of monovalent cations, such as alkali metal salts, ammonium salts, organic amine salts, and mixtures thereof. The monovalent cations of the alkali metals are the following cations: Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, and Fr⁺. Na⁺, for example, may be used in the compositions disclosed herein.

The counterion is a mineral or organic anion, such as Cl⁻.

The salt used may be NaCl.

The concentration of the at least one monovalent salt used in the compositions disclosed herein may range from 0.01% to 10%, such as from 0.05% to 5%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the monovalent salt/gellan gum ratio ranges from 1% to 50%, such as from 2% to 30%.

The silicones that may be used in the compositions disclosed herein may be linear, cyclic, branched or unbranched, and volatile or non-volatile. They may be in the form of oils, resins, or gums, and may, for example, be polyorganosiloxanes that are insoluble in the cosmetically acceptable medium.

The polyorganosiloxanes are defined in greater detail in Walter Noll's “Chemistry and Technology of Silicones” (1968) Academic Press. They can be volatile or non-volatile.

When they are volatile, the silicones may be chosen from those having a boiling point ranging from 60° C. to 260° C., and they may be chosen from:

-   (i) cyclic silicones having from 3 to 7, such as from 4 to 5,     silicon atoms. These are, for example, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane     sold, for example, under the name Volatile Silicone 7207 by Union     Carbide or Silbione® 70045 V 2 by Rhodia Chimie;     decamethylcyclopentasiloxane sold under the name Volatile Silicone     7158 by Union Carbide, and Silbione® 70045 V 5 by Rhodia; and     mixtures thereof.

Mention may also be made of dimethylsiloxane/methylalkylsiloxane cyclocopolymers, such as Volatile Silicone FZ 3109 sold by the company Union Carbide, having the chemical structure:

Mention may also be made of mixtures of cyclic silicones with organosilicon compounds, such as the mixture of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and tetratrimethylsilyl-pentaerythritol (50/50) and the mixture of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and oxy-1,1′-bis(2,2,2′,2′,3,3′-hexatrimethylsilyloxy)neopentane; and

-   (ii) linear volatile silicones having 2 to 9 silicon atoms and     having a viscosity of less than or equal to 5×10⁻⁶ m²/s at 25° C. An     example is decamethyltetrasiloxane sold, for example, under the name     SH 200 by the company Toray Silicone. Silicones belonging to this     category are also described in the article published in Cosmetics     and Toiletries, Vol. 91, Jan. 76, pp. 27-32, Todd & Byers “Volatile     Silicone Fluids for Cosmetics”.

Among the non-volatile silicones that may be mentioned are polyalkylsiloxanes, polyarylsiloxanes, polyalkylarylsiloxanes, silicone gums and resins, polyorganosiloxanes modified with organofunctional groups, and mixtures thereof.

The organomodified silicones that may be used in accordance with certain embodiments are silicones as defined above and containing in their structure at least one organofunctional group attached via a hydrocarbon-based group.

Among the organomodified silicones that may be mentioned are polyorganosiloxanes comprising:

-   polyethyleneoxy and/or polypropyleneoxy groups optionally comprising     C₆-C₂₄ alkyl groups, such as the products known as dimethicone     copolyol sold by the company Dow Corning under the name DC 1248, the     oils Silwet® L 722, L 7500, L 77, and L 711 from the company Union     Carbide, and the (C₁₂)alkylmethicone copolyol sold by the company     Dow Corning under the name Q2 5200; -   substituted or unsubstituted amine groups, such as the products sold     under the names GP 4 Silicone Fluid and GP 7100 by the company     Genesee, and the products sold under the names Q2 8220 and Dow     Corning 929 and 939 by the company Dow Corning. The substituted     amine groups may be C₁-C₄ aminoalkyl groups; -   thiol groups such as the products sold under the names GP 72 A and     GP 71 from Genesee; -   alkoxylated groups such as the product sold under the names Silicone     Copolymer F-755 by SWS Silicones and Abil® Wax 2428, 2434 and 2440     by the company Goldschmidt; -   hydroxylated groups such as the polyorganosiloxanes comprising a     hydroxyalkyl function, described, for example, in French Patent     Application No. FR A 85/16334; -   acyloxyalkyl groups such as, for example, the polyorganosiloxanes     described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,732; -   carboxylic acid anionic groups, such as, for example, in the     products described in European Patent No. EP 186 507 from the     company Chisso Corporation, or alkylcarboxylic anionic groups, such     as those present in the product X-22-3701E from the company     Shin-Etsu; 2-hydroxyalkyl sulfonate; and 2-hydroxyalkyl thiosulfate,     such as the products sold by the company Goldschmidt under the names     Abil® S201 and Abil® S255; -   hydroxyacylamino groups, such as the polyorganosiloxanes described     in European Patent Application No. EP 342 834. Mention may be made,     for example, of the product Q2-8413 from the company Dow Corning.

The silicone oils that may be used in the compositions disclosed herein are volatile or non-volatile polymethylsiloxanes comprising a linear or cyclic silicone chain, which are liquid or pasty at room temperature, for example cyclopolydimethylsiloxanes (cyclomethicones) such as cyclohexasiloxane; polydimethylsiloxanes comprising at least one of alkyl, alkoxy, and phenyl groups, which are pendent or at the end of a silicone chain, these groups having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms; phenylsilicones, for instance phenyltrimethicones, phenyidimethicones, phenyltrimethylsiloxydiphenylsiloxanes, diphenyldimethicones, diphenylmethyidiphenyltrisiloxanes, 2-phenylethyltrimethyl siloxysilicates, and polymethylphenylsiloxanes; and mixtures thereof.

The silicone gums that may be used in the compositions disclosed herein are polydiorganosiloxanes with a high molecular mass, ranging from 200,000 to 2,000,000, used alone or as a mixture in a solvent chosen from at least one of volatile silicones, polydimethylsiloxane oils, polyphenylmethylsiloxane oils, polydiphenyldimethylsiloxane oils, isoparaffins, methylene chloride, pentane, and hydrocarbons,.

A silicone gum with a molecular weight of less than 1,500,000 may be used. The silicone gums may include, for example, polydimethylsiloxanes, polyphenylmethylsiloxanes, poly(diphenylsiloxanedimethylsiloxanes), poly(dimethylsiloxanemethylvinylsiloxanes), poly(dimethylsiloxanephenylmethylsiloxanes), and poly(diphenylsiloxanedimethylsiloxanemethylvinylsiloxanes).

These silicone gums may be terminated at a chain end with at least one of trimethylsilyl and dimethylhydroxysilyl groups.

The silicone resins that may be used in the compositions disclosed herein are crosslinked siloxane systems comprising at least one of the units R₂SiO_(2/2), RSiO_(3/2), and SiO_(4/2), in which R is chosen from hydrocarbon-based groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and phenyl groups. Among these products, mention may be made of those in which R is chosen from linear or branched lower (C₁-C₆) alkyl radicals and phenyl radicals.

The non-silicone fatty substances that may be used in the compositions disclosed herein may be chosen from natural or synthetic, organic or mineral non-silicone oils, waxes, and resins.

As used herein, an oil is a lipophilic compound that is liquid at room temperature (about 25° C.), with a reversible solid/liquid change of state. Animal oils and plant oils may comprise propane-1,2,3-triol triesters as constituents.

As oils that may be used according to certain embodiments, examples that may be mentioned include:

-   hydrocarbon-based oils of animal origin, such as perhydrosqualene; -   hydrocarbon-based oils of plant origin, such as liquid triglycerides     of fatty acids having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, for instance     heptanoic and octanoic acid triglycerides or alternatively, for     example, sunflower oil, maize oil, soybean oil, marrow oil,     grapeseed oil, sesame oil, hazelnut oil, apricot oil, macadamia oil,     arara oil, castor oil, avocado oil, caprylic/capric acid     triglycerides, for instance those sold by the company Stearineries     Dubois or those sold under the names Miglyol 810, 812, and 818 by     the company Dynamit Nobel, jojoba oil, and shea butter oil; -   synthetic esters and synthetic ethers, for example of fatty acids,     such as oils of the formulae R⁶COOR⁷ and R⁶OR⁷ in which R⁶     represents a fatty acid residue having from 8 to 29 carbon atoms and     R⁷ represents a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon-based chain     having from 3 to 30 carbon atoms, such as, for example, purcellin     oil, isononyl isononanoate, isopropyl myristate, 2-ethylhexyl     palmitate, 2-octyldodecyl stearate, 2-octyldodecyl erucate, and     isostearyl isostearate; hydroxylated esters such as isostearyl     lactate, octyl hydroxystearate, octyldodecyl hydroxystearate,     diisostearyl malate, triisocetyl citrate, fatty alkyl heptanoates,     octanoates, and decanoates; polyol esters, for instance propylene     glycol dioctanoate, neopentyl glycol diheptanoate, and diethylene     glycol diisononanoate; and pentaerythritol esters, for instance     pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate; -   linear or branched, mineral or synthetic hydrocarbons, such as     volatile or non-volatile liquid paraffins and derivatives thereof,     petroleum jelly, polydecenes, and hydrogenated polyisobutene such as     parleam oil; -   fluid fatty alcohols having from 8 to 26 carbon atoms, for instance     octyldodecanol, 2-butyloctanol, oleyl alcohol, linoleyl alcohol, and     linolenyl alcohol; -   alkoxylated, such as ethoxylated fatty alcohols, for example     oleth-12; -   partially hydrocarbon-based fluoro oils, for instance those     described in the Japanese document JP A 2 295 912. Examples of     fluoro oils which may also be mentioned include     perfluoromethylcyclopentane and perfluoro-1,3-dimethylcyclohexane,     sold under the names Flutec® PC1 and Flutec® PC3 by the company BNFL     Fluorochemicals; perfluoro-1,2-dimethylcyclobutane; perfluoroalkanes     such as dodecafluoropentane and tetradecafluorohexane, sold under     the names PF 5050 and PF 5060 by the company 3M; and     bromoperfluorooctyl sold under the name Foralkyl® by the company     Atochem; nonafluoromethoxybutane sold under the name MSX 4518 by the     company 3M and nonafluoroethoxyisobutane; and perfluoromorpholine     derivatives, such as the 4-trifluoromethylperfluoromorpholine sold     under the name PF 5052 by the company 3M.

In the list of oils mentioned above, the term “hydrocarbon-based oil” means any oil predominantly comprising carbon and hydrogen atoms, and optionally comprising at least one of ester, ether, fluoro, carboxylic acid, and alcohol groups.

As used herein, a wax is a lipophilic compound that is solid at room temperature (about 25° C.), with a reversible solid/liquid change of state, having a melting point of greater than about 40° C. and which may be up to 200° C., and having an anisotropic crystal organization in the solid state. As constituents, the animal and plant waxes comprise carboxylic acid esters of long-chain alcohols. In general, the size of the wax crystals is such that crystals scatter and/or diffuse light, giving the composition comprising them a more or less opaque, cloudy appearance. By raising the wax to its melting point, it may be possible to make it miscible with oils and to form a microscopically homogeneous mixture, but on returning the temperature of the mixture to room temperature, a microscopically and macroscopically detectable recrystallization of the wax in the oils of the mixture may be obtained (opalescence).

As waxes that may be used according to certain embodiments, mention may be made of waxes of animal origin such as beeswax, spermaceti, lanolin wax, and lanolin derivatives; plant waxes such as sunflower wax, rice wax, apple wax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, ouricury wax, Japan wax, cocoa butter, cork fiber wax, and sugarcane wax; mineral waxes, for example paraffin wax, petroleum jelly wax, lignite wax, microcrystalline waxes, ceresin, and ozokerite; synthetic waxes such as polyethylene waxes and Fischer-Tropsch waxes; and mixtures thereof.

The concentration of the at least one suspension compound chosen from silicones and non-silicone fatty substances used in the compositions disclosed herein may range from 0.01% to 20%, such as from 0.05% to 10%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

Any anionic, cationic, amphoteric, or nonionic fixing polymers and mixtures thereof used in the art may be used in the styling compositions disclosed herein. Polymers that have only a thickening nature, such as the Carbopol® and Carbomer® products, are excluded.

The at least one fixing polymer may be soluble in the cosmetically acceptable medium or insoluble in this same medium and, in this case, used in the form of dispersions of solid or liquid polymer particles (lattices or pseudolattices).

The anionic fixing polymers generally used are polymers comprising groups derived from at least one of carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, and phosphoric acid and have a number average molecular weight of ranging from 500 to 5,000,000.

The carboxylic groups are provided by unsaturated monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid monomers such as those corresponding to the formula (I):

in which n is an integer ranging from 0 to 10; A₁ denotes a methylene group, optionally connected to the carbon atom of the unsaturated group or to the neighboring methylene group when n is greater than 1, via a hetero atom such as oxygen or sulfur; R₇ is chosen from hydrogen, phenyl groups, and benzyl groups; R₈ is chosen from hydrogen, lower alkyl groups, and carboxyl groups; and R₉ is chosen from hydrogen, lower alkyl groups, —CH₂—COOH, phenyl groups, and benzyl groups.

In the abovementioned formula, a lower alkyl group may denote a linear or branched group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methyl and ethyl.

The anionic fixing polymers comprising carboxylic groups that may be mentioned include:

A) acrylic or methacrylic acid homo- or copolymers, and salts thereof, such as the products sold under the names Versicol E or K by the company Allied Colloid and Ultrahold® by the company BASF, the acrylic acid copolymers and acrylamide copolymers sold as sodium salts under the names Reten 421, 423, and 425 by the company Hercules, and the sodium salts of polyhydroxycarboxylic acids.

B) copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic acid with a monoethylenic monomer such as ethylene, styrene, vinyl esters, acrylic acid esters, and methacrylic acid esters, optionally grafted onto a polyalkylene glycol such as polyethylene glycol and optionally crosslinked. Such polymers are described for example in French Patent No.1 222 944 and German Patent Application No. 2 330 956, the copolymers of this type comprising an optionally N-alkylated and/or hydroxyalkylated acrylamide unit in their chain as described for example in Luxembourg Patent Application Nos. 75370 and 75371 or sold under the name Quadramer by the company American Cyanamid. Mention may also be made of copolymers of acrylic acid and of C₁-C₄ alkyl methacrylate and terpolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, of acrylic acid, and of methacrylate of C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, for example of lauryl, such as the product sold by the company ISP under the name Acrylidone® LM and methacrylic acid/ethyl acrylate/tert-butyl acrylate terpolymers such as the product sold under the name Luvimer® 100 P by the company BASF. Mention may also be made of methacrylic acid/acrylic acid/ethyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate copolymers as an aqueous dispersion sold under the name Amerhold® DR 25 by the company Amerchol.

C) crotonic acid copolymers, such as those comprising at least one of vinyl acetate and propionate units in their chain and optionally comprising other monomers such as allylic esters, and methallylic esters, vinyl ethers, and vinyl esters of a linear or branched saturated carboxylic acid with a long hydrocarbon chain such as those having at least 5 carbon atoms, it being possible for these polymers optionally to be grafted or crosslinked, or alternatively another vinyl, allylic, or methallylic ester monomer of an α- or β-cyclic. carboxylic acid. Such polymers are described, inter alia, in French Patent Nos. 1 222 944, 1 580 545, 2 265 782, 2 265 781,1 564 110, and 2 439 798. Commercial products falling into this class are, for example, the resins 28-29-30, 26-13-14, and 28-13-10 sold by the company National Starch.

D) copolymers derived from C₄-C₈ monounsaturated carboxylic acids or anhydrides chosen from:

-   copolymers comprising (i) at least one of maleic, fumaric, and     itaconic acids and anhydrides and (ii) at least one monomer chosen     from vinyl esters, vinyl ethers, vinyl halides, phenylvinyl     derivatives, and acrylic acid and its esters, the anhydride     functions of these copolymers optionally being monoesterified or     monoamidated. Such polymers are described for example in U.S. Pat.     Nos. 2,047,398; 2,723,248; and 2,102,113 and British Patent No. GB     839 805, such as those sold under the names Gantrez® AN and ES by     the company ISP, -   copolymers comprising (i) at least one of maleic, citraconic, and     itaconic anhydride units and (ii) at least one monomer chosen from     allylic and methallylic esters optionally comprising at least one of     acrylamide, methacrylamide, α-olefin, acrylic, and methacrylic     esters, acrylic and methacrylic acids, and vinylpyrrolidone groups     in their chain, the anhydride functions of these copolymers     optionally being monoesterified or monoamidated.

These polymers are described, for example, in French Patent Nos. FR 2 350 384 and FR 2 357 241.

E) Polyacrylamides comprising carboxylate groups.

The homopolymers and copolymers comprising sulfonic groups are polymers comprising at least one of vinylsulfonic, styrenesulfonic, naphthalenesulfonic, and acrylamidoalkylsulfonic units.

These polymers may be chosen from:

-   polyvinylsulfonic acid salts having a molecular weight ranging from     1,000 to 100,000, as well as the copolymers with an unsaturated     comonomer such as acrylic and methacrylic acids and their esters, as     well as acrylamide and its derivatives, vinyl ethers, and     vinylpyrrolidone; -   polystyrenesulfonic acid salts such as the sodium salts that are     sold under the names Flexan® 500 and Flexan® 130 by National Starch.     These compounds are described, for example, in French Patent No. FR     2 198 719; -   polyacrylamidesulfonic acid salts, such as those mentioned in U.S.     Pat. No. 4,128,631 and polyacrylamidoethylpropanesulfonic acid sold     under the name Cosmedia® Polymer HSP 1180 by Henkel.

As another anionic fixing polymer, mention may be made of the branched block anionic polymer sold under the name Fixate® G100 by the company Noveon.

According to certain embodiments, the anionic fixing polymers may be chosen from acrylic acid copolymers, such as the acrylic acid/ethyl acrylate/N-tert-butylacrylamide terpolymers sold under the name Ultrahold® Strong by the company BASF; copolymers derived from crotonic acid, such as vinyl acetate/vinyl tert-butylbenzoate/crotonic acid terpolymers and the crotonic acid/vinyl acetate/vinyl neododecanoate terpolymers sold under the name Resin 28-29-30 by the company National Starch; polymers derived from at least one of maleic, fumaric, and itaconic acids, and anhydrides with vinyl esters, vinyl ethers, vinyl halides, phenylvinyl derivatives and acrylic acid and esters thereof, such as the methyl vinyl ether/monoesterified maleic anhydride copolymers sold under the name Gantrez® [lacuna] by the company ISP; the copolymers of methacrylic acid and of methyl methacrylate sold under the name Eudragit® L by the company Rohm Pharma; the copolymers of methacrylic acid and of ethyl acrylate sold under the name Luvimer® MAEX or MAE by the company BASF; the vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymers sold under the name Luviset® CA 66 by the company BASF; the vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymers grafted with polyethylene glycol sold under the name Aristoflex® A by the company BASF; and the polymer sold under the name Fixate® G100 by the company Noveon.

Among the anionic fixing polymers mentioned above, one may use the methyl vinyl ether/monoesterified maleic anhydride copolymers sold under the name Gantrez® ES 425 by the company ISP, the acrylic acid/ethyl acrylate/N-tert-butylacrylamide terpolymers sold under the name Ultrahold® Strong by the company BASF, the copolymers of methacrylic acid and of methyl methacrylate sold under the name Eudragit® L by the company Rohm Pharma, the vinyl acetate/vinyl tert-butylbenzoate/crotonic acid terpolymers and the crotonic acid/vinyl acetate/vinyl neododecanoate terpolymers sold under the name Resin 28-29-30 by the company National Starch, the copolymers of methacrylic acid and of ethyl acrylate sold under the name Luvimer® MAEX or MAE by the company BASF, the vinylpyrrolidone/acrylic acid/lauryl methacrylate terpolymers sold under the name Acrylidone® LM by the company ISP, and the polymer sold under the name Fixate® G100 by the company Noveon.

The cationic fixing film-forming polymers that may be used according to certain embodiments may be chosen from polymers comprising at least one of primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary amine groups forming part of the polymer chain or directly attached thereto, and having a number average molecular weight ranging from 500 to 5,000,000, such as from 1,000 to 3,000,000.

Among these polymers, mention may be made of the following cationic polymers:

-   (1) homopolymers or copolymers derived from at least one of acrylic     esters, methacrylic esters, and amides with amine functions, and     comprising at least one of the units of the following formulae:

R₃ is chosen from hydrogen and CH₃ groups;

A is chosen from linear or branched alkyl groups comprising 1 to 6 carbon atoms and hydroxyalkyl groups comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms;

R₄, R₅, and R₆, which may be identical or different, are chosen from linear or branched alkyl groups having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms and benzyl groups;

R₁ and R₂, which may be identical or different, are chosen from hydrogen and linear or branched alkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;

X is chosen from methosulfate anions and halides such as chloride and bromide.

The copolymers of the this group (1) may also comprise at least one comonomer unit that may be chosen from at least one of acrylamides, methacrylamides, diacetone acrylamides, acrylamides and methacrylamides substituted on the nitrogen with lower (C₁₋₄) alkyl groups, groups derived from acrylic and methacrylic acids and esters thereof, vinyllactams such as vinylpyrrolidone and vinylcaprolactam, and vinyl esters.

Thus, among these copolymers of the group (1), mention may be made of:

-   copolymers of acrylamide and of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate     quaternized with dimethyl sulfate or with a dimethyl halide, such as     the one sold under the name Hercofloc® by the company Hercules, -   copolymers of acrylamide and of     methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride, described, for     example, in European Patent Application No. EP A 080 976 and sold     under the name Bina Quat P 100 by the company Ciba Geigy, -   copolymers of acrylamide and of     methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium methosulfate, such as the     product sold under the name Reten by the company Hercules, -   quaternized or non-quaternized vinylpyrrolidone/dialkylaminoalkyl     acrylate and methacrylate copolymers, such as the products sold     under the names Gafquat® by the company ISP, such as, for example,     Gafquat® 734 and Gafquat® 755, and additionally the products known     as Copolymer 845, 958 and 937. These polymers are described in     detail, for example, in French Patent Nos. 2 077 143 and 2 393 573, -   fatty-chain polymers comprising a vinylpyrrolidone unit, such as the     products sold under the names Styleze® W20 and Styleze® W10 by the     company ISP, -   dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate/vinylcaprolactam/vinylpyrrolidone     terpolymers, such as the product sold under the name Gaffix® VC 713     by the company ISP, and -   quaternized vinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminopropylmethacrylamide     copolymers, such as the products sold under the name Gafquat® HS 100     by the company ISP; -   (2) cationic polysaccharides, such as those comprising quaternary     ammonium, for example those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,589,578     and 4,031,307, such as guar gums comprising at least one     trialkylammonium cationic group. Such products are sold for example     under the names Jaguar C13S, Jaguar C15, and Jaguar C17 by the     company Meyhall; -   (3) vinylpyrrolidone quaternary copolymers and vinylimidazole     quaternary copolymers; -   (4) chitosans and the salts thereof. The salts that may be used, for     example, include chitosan acetate, lactate, glutamate, gluconate,     and pyrrolidonecarboxylate.

Among these compounds, mention may be made of chitosan having a degree of deacetylation of 90.5% by weight, sold under the name Kytan Brut Standard by the company Aber Technologies, and chitosan pyrrolidonecarboxylate sold under the name Kytamer® PC by the company Amerchol.

-   (5) cationic cellulose derivatives such as copolymers of cellulose     and of cellulose derivatives grafted with a water-soluble monomer     comprising a quaternary ammonium, and disclosed for example in U.S.     Pat. No. 4,131,576, such as hydroxyalkylcelluloses, for instance     hydroxymethyl-, hydroxyethyl- and hydroxypropylcelluloses grafted     for example with at least one of     methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium,     methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium, and dimethyldiallylammonium     salts.

The products sold corresponding to this definition may, for example, include the products sold under the names Celquat L 200 and Celquat H 100 by the company National Starch.

The amphoteric fixing polymers that can be used in accordance with certain embodiments may be chosen from polymers comprising units B and C distributed randomly in the polymer chain, in which B denotes a unit derived from a monomer comprising at least one basic nitrogen atom and C denotes a unit derived from an acid monomer comprising at least one of carboxylic and sulfonic groups, or alternatively B and C may denote groups derived from at least one of carboxybetaine and sulfobetaine zwitterionic monomers;

B and C may also denote a cationic polymer chain comprising at least one of primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary amine groups, in which at least one of the amine groups bears at least one of carboxylic and sulfonic groups connected via a hydrocarbon group, or alternatively B and C form part a polymer chain containing an α,β-dicarboxylic ethylene unit in which one of the carboxylic groups has been made to react with a polyamine comprising at least one of primary and secondary amine groups.

The amphoteric fixing polymers corresponding to the definition given above that may be mentioned may be chosen from the following polymers:

-   (1) copolymers having acidic vinyl and basic vinyl units, such as     those resulting from the copolymerization of a monomer derived from     a vinyl compound bearing a carboxylic group, such as acrylic acid,     methacrylic acid, maleic acid, and α-chloroacrylic acid; and a basic     monomer derived from a substituted vinyl compound containing at     least one basic atom, such as dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate,     dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, anddialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamides and     -acrylamides. Such compounds are described, for example, in U.S.     Pat. No. 3,836,537. -   (2) polymers comprising units derived from:     -   a) at least one monomer chosen from acrylamides and         methacrylamides substituted on the nitrogen atom with a linear         or branched alkyl group,     -   b) at least one acidic comonomer comprising at least one         reactive carboxylic group, and     -   c) at least one basic comonomer such as esters comprising at         least one of primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary amine         substituents of acrylic and methacrylic acids and the product of         quaternization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with at least         one of dimethyl sulfate and diethyl sulfate.

The N-substituted acrylamides and methacrylamides that may be mentioned are compounds in which the alkyl groups have from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, such as N-ethylacrylamide, N-tert-butylacrylamide, N-tert-octylacrylamide, N-octylacrylamide, N-decylacrylamide, N-dodecylacrylamide, and the corresponding methacrylamides.

The acidic comonomers may be chosen from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, and alkyl monoesters, having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, of maleic and fumaric acids and anhydrides.

Basic comonomers that may be mentioned include aminoethyl, butyl-aminoethyl, N,N′-dimethylaminoethyl, and N-tert-butylaminoethyl methacrylates.

The copolymers whose CTFA (4th edition, 1991) name is octylacryl-amide/acrylates/butylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, such as the products sold under the names Amphomer® and Lovocryl® 47 by the company National Starch, may, for example, be used.

-   (3) crosslinked and acylated polyamino amides partially or totally     derived from polyamino amides of general formula: -    in which R₁₀ is chosen from divalent groups derived from a     saturated dicarboxylic acid, a mono- or dicarboxylic aliphatic acid     comprising an ethylenic double bond, esters of a lower alkanol of     these acids having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and groups derived from the     addition of any one of said acids to a bis(primary) or     bis(secondary) amine; and Z is chosen from groups derived from at     least one of bis(primary), mono-, and bis(secondary)     polyalkylene-polyamines, and may represent:     -   a) in an amount ranging from 60 to 100 mol %, the group:     -    where x is 2 and p is chosen from 2 and 3, or alternatively x         is 3 and p is 2, wherein this group is derived from at least one         of diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetraamine, and         dipropylenetriamine;     -   b) in an amount ranging from 0 to 40 mol %, the group     -    above in which x is 2 and p is 1 and which is derived from         ethylenediamine, or the group derived from piperazine:     -   c) in proportions ranging from 0 to 20 mol %, the -NH(CH₂)₆-NH—         group being derived from hexamethylenediamine, -    these polyamino amides being crosslinked by an addition reaction of     a difunctional crosslinking agent chosen from epihalohydrins,     diepoxides, dianhydrides, and bis-unsaturated derivatives, using     from 0.025 to 0.35 mol of crosslinking agent per amine group of the     polyamino amide and acylated by the action of at least one of     acrylic acid, chloroacetic acid, alkane sultones, and salts thereof.

The saturated carboxylic acids may be chosen from acids having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, such as adipic acid, 2,2,4-trimethyladipic acid, and 2,4,4-trimethyladipic acid; terephthalic acid; and acids comprising an ethylenic double bond such as, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and itaconic acid.

The alkane sultones used in the acylation may be chosen from propane sultone and butane sultone, and the salts of the acylating agents may be chosen from sodium and potassium salts.

-   (4) polymers comprising zwitterionic units of formula: -    in which R₁₁ is chosen from polymerizable unsaturated groups such     as acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, and methacrylamide groups; y     and z are chosen from an integer ranging from 1 to 3; R₁₂ and R₁₃     are chosen from hydrogen, methyl groups, ethyl groups, and propyl     groups; and R₁₄ and R₁₅ are chosen from hydrogen and linear or     branched alkyl groups such that the sum of the carbon atoms in R₁₄     and R₁₅ does not exceed 10.

The polymers comprising such units may also comprise units derived from nonzwitterionic monomers such as dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, diethylaminoethyl acrylate, methacrylate, alkyl acrylates, alkyl methacrylates, acrylamides, methacrylamides, and vinyl acetate.

By way of example, mention may be made of the copolymers of methyl methacrylate/methyl dimethylcarboxymethylammonioethyl methacrylate such as the product sold under the name Diaformer® Z301 by the company Sandoz.

-   (5) polymers derived from chitosan comprising monomer units     corresponding to the following formulae: -    the unit (D) being present in an amount ranging from 0 to 30%, the     unit (E) being present in an amount ranging from 5 to 50%, and the     unit (F) being present in an amount ranging from 30% to 90%, it     being understood that, in this unit (F), R₁₆ represents a group of     formula: -    and the acid and base salts thereof, in which, if q is 0, R₁₇, R₁₈,     and R₁₉, which may be identical or different, are independently     chosen from hydrogen; methyl groups; hydroxyl groups; acetoxy     groups; amino groups; monoalkylamine residues; dialkylamine residues     that are optionally interrupted by at least one nitrogen atom and     optionally substituted with at least one group chosen from amine,     hydroxyl, carboxyl, alkylthio and sulfonic groups; and alkylthio     residues in which the alkyl group bears an amino residue, at least     one of the groups R₁₇, R₁₈, and R₁₉ being, in this case, a hydrogen     atom; -   or, if q is 1, R₁₇, R₁₈ and R₁₉ each represent hydrogen, -   (6) polymers corresponding to the general formula (V) that are     described, for example, in French Patent No. 1 400 366:     -   in which r is such that the molecular weight of the polymer         ranges 500 to 6,000,000, such as from 1,000 to 1,000,000;     -   R₂₀ is chosen from hydrogen, CH₃O groups, CH₃CH₂O groups, and         phenyl groups;     -   R₂₁ is chosen from hydrogen and lower alkyl groups such as         methyl and ethyl groups; R₂₂ is chosen from hydrogen and C₁₋₆         lower alkyl groups such as methyl and ethyl groups;     -   R₂₃ is chosen from C₁₋₆ lower alkyl groups such as methyl and         ethyl groups and groups corresponding to the formula:         —R₂₄—N(R₂₂)₂, wherein R₂₂ is defined as above and R₂₄ is defined         as below, and     -   R₂₄ is chosen from —CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—, and —CH₂—CH(CH₃)—         groups, -   (7) polymers derived from the N-carboxyalkylation of chitosan, such     as N-carboxymethylchitosan and N-carboxybutylchitosan sold under the     name Evalsan by the company Jan Dekker. -   (8) amphoteric polymers of the type -D-X-D-X- chosen from:     -   a) polymers obtained by the action of chloroacetic acid or         sodium chloroacetate on compounds comprising at least one unit         of formula:         -D-X-D-X-D-  (VI)     -    where D denotes a group     -    and X is chosen from the symbols E and E′. E and E′, which may         be identical or different, are chosen from divalent groups that         are alkylene groups with a straight or branched chain having up         to 7 carbon atoms in the main chain, which may be unsubstituted         or substituted with hydroxyl groups and which optionally         comprises, in addition to the oxygen, at least one of nitrogen,         sulfur, and 1 to 3 aromatic and/or heterocyclic rings; the         oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur atoms being present in the form of         at least one of ether, thioether, sulfoxide, sulfone, sulfonium,         alkylamine, alkenylamine, hydroxyl, benzylamine, amine oxide,         quaternary ammonium, amide, imide, alcohol, ester, and urethane         groups.     -   b) polymers of formula:         -D-X-D-X-  (VI′)     -    where D denotes a group     -    and X is chosen from the symbols E and E′ and at least once E′;         wherein E has the meaning given above and E′ is a divalent group         that is an alkylene group with a straight or branched chain         having up to 7 carbon atoms in the main chain, which may be         unsubstituted or substituted with at least one hydroxyl group         and comprising at least one nitrogen atom, the nitrogen atom         being substituted with an alkyl chain that is optionally         interrupted by an oxygen atom and further comprising at least         one of carboxyl functions and hydroxyl functions and betainized         by reaction with at least one of chloroacetic acid and sodium         chloroacetate. -   (9) (C₁-C₅)alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymers partially     modified by semiamidation with an N,N-dialkylaminoalkylamine such as     N,N-dimethylamino-propylamine or by semiesterification with an     N,N-dialkylaminoalkanol. These copolymers can also comprise other     vinyl comonomers such as vinylcaprolactam.

Among the amphoteric fixing polymers described above, ones that may be mentioned according to certain embodiments are those of group (3), such as the copolymers whose CTFA name is octylacrylamide/acrylates/butylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, such as the products sold under the names Amphomer®, Amphomer® LV 71, and Lovocryl® 47 by the company National Starch and those of group (4) such as the copolymers of methyl methacrylate/methyl dimethylcarboxymethylammonioethyl methacrylate, sold, for example, under the name Diaformer® Z301 by the company Sandoz.

The nonionic fixing polymers that may be used according to certain embodiements may be chosen, for example, from:

-   polyalkyloxazolines; -   vinyl acetate homopolymers; -   vinyl acetate copolymers, for instance copolymers of vinyl acetate     and of acrylic ester; copolymers of vinyl acetate and of     ethylene;andcopolymers of vinyl acetate and of maleic ester, for     example of dibutyl maleate; -   homopolymers and copolymers of acrylic esters, for instance     copolymers of alkyl acrylates and of alkyl methacrylates, such as     the products sold by the company Rohm & Haas under the names Primal®     AC-261 K and Eudragit® NE 30 D, by the company BASF under the name     8845 and by the company Hoechst under the name Appretan N9212; -   copolymers of acrylonitrile and of a nonionic monomer chosen, for     example, from butadiene and alkyl (meth)acrylates; mention may be     made of the products sold under the name CJ 0601 B by the company     Rohm & Haas; -   styrene homopolymers; -   styrene copolymers, for instance copolymers of styrene and of an     alkyl (meth)acrylate, such as the products Mowilith® LDM 6911,     Mowilith® DM 611, and Mowilith® LDM 6070 sold by the company     Hoechst, and the products Rhodopase SD 215 and Rhodopas® DS 910 sold     by the company Rhône-Poulenc; copolymers of styrene, of alkyl     methacrylate, and of alkyl acrylate; copolymers of styrene and of     butadiene; and copolymers of styrene, of butadiene and of     vinylpyridine; -   polyamides; -   vinyllactam homopolymers other than vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers,     such as the polyvinylcaprolactam sold under the name Luviskol® Plus     by the company BASF; and -   vinyllactam copolymers such as a poly(vinylpyrrolidone/vinyllactam)     copolymer sold under the trade name Luvitec® VPC 55K65W by the     company BASF, poly(vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate) copolymers, such     as those sold under the name PVPVA S630L by the company ISP,     Luviskol® VA 73, VA 64, VA 55, VA 37, and VA 28 by the company BASF;     and poly(vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate/vinyl propionate)     terpolymers, for instance the product sold under the name Luviskol®     VAP 343 by the company BASF.

The alkyl groups of the nonionic polymers mentioned above may have from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

According to present disclosure, it is also possible to use grafted silicone fixing polymers comprising a polysiloxane portion and a portion comprising a nonsilicone organic chain, one of the two portions constituting the main chain of the polymer, and the other being grafted onto the said main chain.

These polymers are described, for example, in Patent Application Nos. EP A 0 412 704, EP A 0 412 707, EP A 0 640 105, WO 95/00578, EP A 0 582 152, and WO 93/23009 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,693,935, 4,728,571, and 4,972,037.

These polymers may be amphoteric, anionic, or nonionic.

Such polymers are, for example, copolymers that can be obtained by free radical polymerization from the monomer mixture formed from:

-   a) 50 to 90% by weight of tert-butyl acrylate; -   b) 0 to 40% by weight of acrylic acid; -   c) 5 to 40% by weight of a silicone macromer of formula: -    in which v is a number ranging from 5 to 700; the weight     percentages being calculated relative to the total weight of the     monomers.

Other examples of grafted silicone polymers include polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMSs) onto which are grafted, via a thiopropylene-type connecting chain, mixed polymer units of the poly(meth)acrylic acid type and of the polyalkyl (meth)acrylate type and polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMSS) onto which are grafted, via a thiopropylene-type connecting chain, polymer units of the polyisobutyl (meth)acrylate type.

Another type of silicone fixing polymer that may be mentioned is the product Luviflex® Silk, sold by the company BASF.

Functionalized or non-functionalized, silicone or non-silicone, and cationic, nonionic, anionic, or amphoteric polyurethanes may also be used as the at least one fixing polymer.

The polyurethanes that may be mentioned are those disclosed in European Patent Nos. EP 0 751 162, EP 0 637 600, EP 0 648 485, EP 0 656 021, and EP 0 619 111; French Patent No. FR 2 743 297; and PCT Patent Application No. WO 94/03510.

As polyurethanes that may be suitable according to certain embodiments, mention may be made of the products sold under the names Luviset® Pur and Luviset® Si-Pur by the company BASF.

The concentration of the at least one fixing polymer used in the compositions disclosed herein ranges from 0.1% to 20%, such as from 0.5% to 10%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

The composition disclosed herein may also comprise at least one adjuvant chosen from nonionic, anionic, cationic, and amphoteric surfactants; nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric additional polymers other than the fixing polymers used in the compositions disclosed herein; ceramides and pseudoceramides; vitamins and provitamins, including panthenol; silicone or non-silicone, liquid or solid, water-soluble and liposoluble sunscreens; solid compounds such as pigments, nacreous agents, and opacifiers; dyes; sequestering agents; plasticizers; solubilizers; acidifying agents; basifying agents; neutralizers; mineral and organic thickeners; antioxidants; hydroxy acids; glycols; penetrating agents; fragrances; and preserving agents.

A person skilled in the art will take care to select the optional additives and the amount thereof such that they do not harm the properties of the compositions disclosed herein.

These additives may be present in the composition in an amount ranging from 0 to 20% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

The examples that follow illustrate certain embodiments and should not be considered as limiting the present disclosure in any way.

Other than in the examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number of significant digits and ordinary rounding approaches.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. The examples that follow are intended to illustrate the compositions disclosed herein without, however, limiting the scope.

EXAMPLES

Compositions formulated as a spray in a pump-dispenser bottle were prepared, in which the contents of the various constituents in g/100 g were as follows:

Composition 1 Constituent g/100 g Gellan gum 0.1 NaCl 0.5 Phenyl silicone 6 Fragrance qs Preserving agent qs Distilled water qs 100

The phenyl silicone used was DC 556.

The drops remained in suspension in the medium, forming a stable homogeneous suspension. After storage for 2 months at 45° C., no change was observed in the appearance of this composition.

Composition 2 Constituent g/100 g Gellan gum 0.1 NaCl 0.5 Phenyl silicone 6 Fixing polymer (Fixate-G-100) 2 Fragrance qs Preserving agent qs Distilled water qs 100

The phenyl silicone used was DC 556.

When applied to the hair, this composition allowed a fixing effect compatible to a composition simply containing the fixing polymer at 2% in water.

Applying this composition to the hair gave the hair a styling effect and also a very soft feel and a good level of sheen. 

1. A fluid aqueous cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium: at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof; at least one monovalent salt; and at least one compound in suspension chosen from phenyl silicones, non-phenyl silicones, and non-silicone fatty substances, with the proviso that when the compound in suspension is not a phenyl silicone, then the composition comprises at least one fixing polymer chosen from at least one of anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and nonionic fixing polymers.
 2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the gellan gum derivative is a welan gum.
 3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof ranges from 0.005% to 10%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 4. The composition according to claim 3, wherein the concentration of the at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof ranges from 0.01% and 5%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 5. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the concentration of the at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof ranges from 0.02% and 3%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one monovalent salt is chosen from salts of monovalent cations.
 7. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the salts of monovalent cations are chosen from alkali metal salts, ammonium salts, and organic amine salts.
 8. The composition according to claim 7, wherein the alkali metal salt is a sodium salt.
 9. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the at least one monovalent salt ranges from 0.01% to 10%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 10. The composition according to claim 9, wherein the concentration of the at least one monovalent salt ranges from 0.05% to 5%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 11. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one compound in suspension is a phenyl or non-phenyl silicone chosen from oils, waxes, gums, resins, and polyorganosiloxanes that are insoluble in the cosmetically acceptable medium.
 12. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one compound in suspension is a non-silicone fatty substance chosen from natural or synthetic, organic or mineral, non-silicone oils, waxes, and resins.
 13. The composition according to claim 12, such that the at least one compound in suspension is an oil chosen from hydrocarbon-based oils of animal origin; hydrocarbon-based oils of plant origin; synthetic esters; synthetic ethers; hydroxylated esters; polyol esters; pentaerythritol esters; linear or branched hydrocarbons of mineral or synthetic origin; fluid fatty alcohols having from 8 to 26 carbon atoms; alkoxylated and ethoxylated fatty alcohols; partially hydrocarbon-based fluoro oils; and perfluoromorpholine derivatives.
 14. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the hydrocarbon-based oil of animal origin is perhydrosqualene.
 15. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the hydrocarbon-based oil of plant origin is chosen from liquid triglycerides of fatty acids having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms.
 16. The composition according to claim 15, wherein the liquid triglycerides of fatty acids having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms are chosen from acid triglycerides, octanoic acid triglycerides, sunflower oil, maize oil, soybean oil, marrow oil, grapeseed oil, sesame oil, hazelnut oil, apricot oil, macadamia oil, arara oil, castor oil, avocado oil, caprylic/capric acid triglycerides, jojoba oil, and shea butter oil.
 17. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the synthetic ether is chosen from fatty acids.
 18. The composition according to claim 17, wherein the fatty acids are chosen from oils of formulae R⁶COOR⁷ and R⁶OR⁷ in which R⁶ represents a fatty acid residue having from 8 to 29 carbon atoms and R⁷ represents a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon-based chain having from 3 to 30 carbon atoms.
 19. The composition according to claim 18, wherein the fatty acids are chosen from purcellin oil, isononyl isononanoate, isopropyl myristate, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate, 2-octyldodecyl stearate, 2-octyldodecyl erucate, and isostearyl isostearate.
 20. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the hydroxylated esters are chosen from isostearyl lactate, octyl hydroxystearate, octyldodecyl hydroxystearate, diisostearyl malate, triisocetyl citrate, fatty alkyl heptanoates, octanoates, and decanoates.
 21. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the polyol esters are chosen from propylene glycol dioctanoate, neopentyl glycol diheptanoate, and diethylene glycol diisononanoate.
 22. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the pentaerythritol ester is pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate.
 23. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the linear or branched hydrocarbons of mineral or synthetic origin are chosen from volatile or non-volatile liquid paraffins and derivatives thereof, petroleum jelly, polydecenes, and hydrogenated polyisobutene.
 24. The composition according to claim 23, wherein the hydrogenated polyisobutene is parleam oil.
 25. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the fluid fatty alcohols having from 8 to 26 carbon atoms are chosen from octyldodecanol, 2-butyloctanol, oleyl alcohol, linoleyl alcohol, and linolenyl alcohol.
 26. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the ethoxylated fatty alcohol is oleth-12.
 27. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the partially hydrocarbon-based fluoro oils are chosen from perfluoromethylcyclopentane, perfluoro-1,3-dimethylcyclohexane, perfluoro-1,2-dimethylcyclobutane, perfluoroalkanes, nonafluoromethoxybutane, and nonafluoroethoxyisobutene.
 28. The composition according to claim 27, wherein the perfluoroalkane is chosen from dodecafluoropentane, tetradecafluorohexane, and bromoperfluorooctyl.
 29. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the perfluoromorpholine derivative is 4-trifluoromethylperfluoromorpholine.
 30. The composition according to claim 12, such that the compound in suspension is a wax chosen from waxes of animal origin, plant waxes, mineral waxes, and synthetic waxes.
 31. The composition according to claim 30, wherein the waxes of animal origin are chosen from beeswax, spermaceti wax, lanolin wax, and lanolin derivatives.
 32. The composition according to claim 30, wherein plant waxes are chosen from sunflower wax, rice wax, apple wax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, ouricury wax, Japan wax, cocoa butter wax, cork fibre wax, and sugarcane wax.
 33. The composition according to claim 30, wherein the mineral waxes are chosen from paraffin wax, petroleum jelly wax, lignite wax, microcrystalline waxes, ceresin, and ozokerite.
 34. The composition according to claim 30, wherein the synthetic waxes are chosen from at least one of polyethylene waxes and Fischer-Tropsch waxes.
 35. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the at least one compound in suspension ranges from 0.01% to 20%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 36. The composition according to claim 35, wherein the concentration of the at least one compound in suspension ranges from 0.05% to 10%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 37. The composition according to claim 1, wherein when the at least one compound in suspension is chosen from non-phenyl silicones and non-silicone fatty substances, the composition further comprises at least one fixing polymer chosen from at least one of anionic, cationic, amphoteric and nonionic fixing polymers.
 38. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing polymer is a cationic fixing polymer chosen from homopolymers or copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic esters or amides comprising amine functions, cationic polysaccharides, quaternary copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, quaternary copolymers of vinylimidazole, and chitosans.
 39. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing polymer is an anionic fixing polymer chosen from acrylic and methacrylic acid homopolymers or copolymers or salts thereof, crotonic acid copolymers, copolymers of C₄-C₈ monounsaturated carboxylic acids or anhydrides, polyacrylamides comprising carboxylate groups, homopolymers or copolymers comprising sulfonic groups, anionic polyurethanes, and anionic grafted silicone polymers.
 40. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing polymer is an amphoteric fixing polymer chosen from copolymers containing acidic vinyl units and basic vinyl units, crosslinked and acylated polyamino amides, polymers containing zwitterionic units, chitosan-based polymers, (C₁-C₅)alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride modified copolymers, amphoteric polyurethanes, and amphoteric grafted silicone polymers.
 41. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing polymer is a nonionic fixing polymer chosen from polyalkyloxazolines, vinyl acetate homopolymers and copolymers, acrylic ester homopolymers and copolymers, acrylonitrile copolymers, styrene homopolymers and copolymers, polyamides, vinyllactam homopolymers other than vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers, vinyllactam copolymers, nonionic polyurethanes, and nonionic grafted silicone polymers.
 42. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the at least one fixing polymer ranges from 0.1% to 20%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 43. The composition according to claim 42, wherein the concentration of the at least one fixing polymer ranges from 0.5% to 10%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 44. The composition according to claim 37, wherein the at least one fixing polymer is a cationic fixing polymer chosen from homopolymers or copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic esters or amides comprising amine functions, cationic polysaccharides, quaternary copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, quaternary copolymers of vinylimidazole, and chitosans.
 45. The composition according to claim 37, wherein the at least one fixing polymer is an anionic fixing polymer chosen from acrylic and methacrylic acid homopolymers or copolymers or salts thereof, crotonic acid copolymers, copolymers of C₄-C₈ monounsaturated carboxylic acids or anhydrides, polyacrylamides comprising carboxylate groups, homopolymers or copolymers comprising sulfonic groups, anionic polyurethanes, and anionic grafted silicone polymers.
 46. The composition according to claim 37, wherein the at least one fixing polymer is an amphoteric fixing polymer chosen from copolymers containing acidic vinyl units and basic vinyl units, crosslinked and acylated polyamino amides, polymers containing zwitterionic units, chitosan-based polymers, (C₁-C₅)alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride modified copolymers, amphoteric polyurethanes, and amphoteric grafted silicone polymers.
 47. The composition according to claim 37, wherein the at least one fixing polymer is a nonionic fixing polymer chosen from polyalkyloxazolines, vinyl acetate homopolymers and copolymers, acrylic ester homopolymers and copolymers, acrylonitrile copolymers, styrene homopolymers and copolymers, polyamides, vinyllactam homopolymers other than vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers, vinyllactam copolymers, nonionic polyurethanes, and nonionic grafted silicone polymers.
 48. The composition according to claim 37, wherein the concentration of the at least one fixing polymer ranges from 0.1% to 20%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 49. The composition according to claim 48, wherein the concentration of the at least one fixing polymer ranges from 0.5% to 10%, by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
 50. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising at least one adjuvant chosen from nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants, nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric additional polymers, ceramides and pseudoceramides, vitamins and provitamins, silicone or non-silicone, liquid or solid, water-soluble and liposoluble sunscreens, solid compounds, dyes, sequestering agents, plasticizers, solubilizers, acidifying agents, basifying agents, neutralizers, mineral and organic thickeners, antioxidants, hydroxy acids, glycols, penetrating agents, fragrances, and preserving agents.
 51. The composition according to claim 50, wherein the provitamin is panthenol.
 52. The composition according to claim 50, wherein the solid compounds are chosen from pigments, nacreous agents, and opacifiers.
 53. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said composition is in the form of a gel.
 54. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said composition is in the form of a mousse.
 55. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said composition is in the form of a spray.
 56. A process for shaping and/or holding a hairstyle, comprising applying to hair a composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium: at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof; at least one monovalent salt; and at least one compound in suspension chosen from phenyl silicones, non-phenyl silicones, and non-silicone fatty substances, with the proviso that when the compound in suspension is not a phenyl silicone, then the composition comprises at least one fixing polymer chosen from at least one of anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and nonionic fixing polymers.
 57. A method for fixing and holding hair, comprising applying to the hair a styling composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium: at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof; at least one monovalent salt; and at least one compound in suspension chosen from phenyl silicones, non-phenyl silicones, and non-silicone fatty substances, with the proviso that when the compound in suspension is not a phenyl silicone, then the composition comprises at least one fixing polymer chosen from at least one of anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and nonionic fixing polymers.
 58. A method for giving hair softness, comprising applying to the hair a hair conditioning composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium: at least one gellan gum or derivative thereof; at least one monovalent salt; and at least one compound in suspension chosen from phenyl silicones, non-phenyl silicones, and non-silicone fatty substances, with the proviso that when the compound in suspension is not a phenyl silicone, then the composition comprises at least one fixing polymer chosen from at least one of anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and nonionic fixing polymers. 